Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population.

From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness.

But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction.

Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Genre:Paranormal, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Dystopia,Science Fiction

Creatures: Robots, Aliens, genetic manipulations

Age: young adult

Source: owned ebook

Read from December 15 to 20, 2012

FINAL RATING: ★★★★/★★★★★

STORY

Considering the fact that Cinder is a retelling of Cinderella in dystopia, it was actually more than i expected. And it's also one of the rare dystopias where the setting is not in America, but in Asia, and in New Beijing, where whole Asia united into a Empire called Commonwhealth. The other continents did as well, though only the CW was empire. This i liked, but i also loved the idea that the moon got the name "Luna" and that the people there, Lunar, were not quite right (who have mind control, hell yeah, and whom the Earthlings are very afraid of). So, to avoid the inevitable war, Prince Kaito must ally with Lunar Queen Levana (who is quite a b****). And in the meantime, there is a incurable plague taking lives of citizens in high numbers.

And in the meantime we have mechanic cyborg called Cinder who is our Cinderella of the story. Though the story was somewhat predictable, i just didn't care for it, because i cared for characters more. And also, this was told from third point of view with alternating povs (which is another big + from me). And it's recommended to read Glitches first.

CHARACTERS:

Cinder is a cyborg with amnesia, with many problems and with a step mother which is abusive and 2 step sisters. One i didn't like, and one was ok. So....as usual, every bad thing that happens (where you throw in some hate) is directed toward Cinder, so yeah, poor girl. But she managed to deal with it, and she is more human than she thought. I liked her a lot. Though, i could really guess easily who she was so i thought that part was predictable as hell, but other than that, she is amazing character.

Prince Kai, on the other hand is the type you wanna shake and hug and say everything is ok xD (well, Cinder is one of those as well). He was burdened with the fact that he had to rule at such young age and that he had to make decisions best for his country, therefore betraying his heart and his beliefs. But did he?

Anyway, i liked the flirting between him and Cinder and i found them both to be absolutely cute together (throw in some conspiracies, some Lunars,some powers and cyborgs and some hate and positions and whatever else that can be thrown at them).

Anyway, that crazy doctor was one of the people i liked. Also, i liked Iko, robot who was actually thinking she was human-and who i think got the role of fairy godmother. Hm.......... :D

Though, Adri, the stepmother was such bitch i just couldn't understand. Oh common, you can't just be that bitchy, right? I hoped she would change, but nooooooooooooo. The same goes for Pearl. But Peony was alright, i didn't like her, but i didn't hate her as well, and she is the only person Cinder liked (She loves Iko).

Queen Levana - she must die, she irritates me so much. Oh and she stands in their way! Someone do something, but i still believe:

OVERALL:

very interesting book, i can't wait for Scarlet, especially after reading The Queen's Army.

And i just can't help it, but this is so ironical picture in Cinderella story: (it's not big spoiler, it was bound to happen.